Port of Brisbane trials Super B-Doubles

20 May 2002

Tomorrow the Port of Brisbane Corporation and Queensland Transport will begin trials of Super B-Double trucks at the Port of Brisbane. The trucks will be used to transport containers between the shipping terminals, the Corporation’s rail terminal (the Brisbane Multimodal Terminal) and container parks.

While existing vehicle combinations can only carry between one and three 20-foot containers (depending on weight) or one 40-foot container, the 30-metre-long Super B-Doubles can carry up to four 20-foot containers or two 40-foot containers.

The Corporation’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Jeff Coleman, said, “We have embarked on this trial because of the obvious efficiencies to be gained. The Super B-Double’s extra capacity will mean more containers moved with fewer trucks. This will save both time and costs, and, from an environmental perspective, fewer trucks will mean reduced emissions”.

For the initial period of the trial, the Super B-Doubles will be restricted to just four roads on Fisherman Islands. Nevertheless, Mr Coleman still advised caution by other drivers.

“A Super B-Double is around four metres longer than a B-Double, and so we are asking road users on Fisherman Islands to take special care, especially at roundabouts and when overtaking,” he said. “It will be more important than ever that people observe the 60km/h speed limit.”

Four Super B-Doubles will be taking part in the trial. The Brisbane Multimodal Terminal’s contract truckers, K&S Freighters, will operate three, and independent contractor, Transmutation Pty Ltd, owns the other.